Learn to identify common dragonflies and damselflies in this class at The Morton Arboretum. Dragonfly monitor Cindy Crosby will lead an interactive classroom session followed by a field study on the Schulenberg Prairie.
Get an introduction to the natural history of the dragonfly, with beautiful images and recommended tools and techniques for identification of species that are commonly found in northern and central Illinois. Enjoy an overview of the cultural history of the dragonfly—its place in art, literature, music, and even cuisine. Then put your skills to work out on the prairie. Under the guidance of your instructor, you will practice field identification and learn some advanced identification skills. You’ll never see dragonflies in the same way again.
This program meets in person at the Arboretum.
Instructor: Cindy Crosby, author and naturalist
Age: 16 and older
Course number: N036
Cindy Crosby, author and naturalist
Cindy Crosby is the author, compiler, or contributor to more than 20 books, including The Tallgrass Prairie: An Introduction, co-author of Tallgrass Conversations: In Search of the Prairie Spirit and author of Chasing Dragonflies: A Natural and Cultural History (Northwestern University Press, 2020). She is a prairie steward at the Schulenberg Prairie and at Nachusa Grasslands, and she coordinates dragonfly monitoring programs at both sites. She earned a masters degree in natural resources at University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point. She blogs each week at Tuesdays in the Tallgrass, and she teaches natural history and trains naturalists in the Chicago region. Find out more on her website.
What to Know
This program meets indoors and outdoors.
Check the forecast and dress for the weather.
Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes and plan to walk more than a mile on uneven terrain.
Program Schedule
Friday, June 23, 2023, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Thornhill Education Center
